In Praise of Allergen-Ridden Peanuts (with Recipe)

First it was airplanes, then school cafeterias, and now this: The Cleveland Indians are going to make history by being the first baseball team to regulate the consumption of peanuts in its stadium. What this means: They'll have a "least peanut-exposed" entrance into the stands as well as a designated "Peanut Aware Zone," where spectators aren't allowed to eat peanuts — or, for that matter, any kind of tree nut — and where there won't be any peanut vending whatsoever.

So much for Cracker Jacks and all that. Now, don't get us wrong, we're not angry at anyone with peanut allergies — in fact, there are people in our lives whom we hold dearly and who cannot come close to a legume. It's just that this story breaks our spirit a little bit. After all, what's baseball without peanuts? In honor of the much-maligned nut, we've provided a recipe below (from our 2001 guide to enjoying bacon) for anyone who would similarly like to commemorate our dear friend. Learn how to eat peanuts like a man, allergies be damned.

Peanut-Butter and Bacon Sandwiches

We used to eat these before cookouts at my grandparents' house on the Jersey shore. Yeah, before. They're appetizers. My grandfather would step out onto the deck around 5:30 P.M., shirtless under his favorite white apron, and fire up the Weber. Then he'd take a pound of bacon, chop it in half — no need to separate the strips, not yet — and throw it in his cast-iron skillet, which went right on the grill rack. The creaminess of the peanut butter, the crackle of the bacon, the give of the rolls — trust me. —Brendan Vaughan

Serves six to eight as a first course

• 1 lb supermarket bacon

• 4 small ripe tomatoes, sliced

• Creamy peanut butter to taste

• 2 red onions, diced (optional)

• 12 small soft dinner rolls, sliced like hamburger buns

In a cast-iron skillet over high heat, cook bacon until crispy, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from skillet and lay out on paper towels.

Place bacon on a serving platter alongside tomatoes, onions (if desired), rolls, and a jar of creamy peanut butter.